Gammy's parents to give their side of story on 60 Minutes

Emma Partridge

The Australian couple accused of abandoning baby Gammy with a Thai surrogate will break their silence over the international scandal this Sunday night.

David and Wendy Farnell allegedly left their sick seven-month-old baby Gammy in Thailand and took his healthy twin sister home to the seaside city of Bunbury in Western Australia.

The couple have agreed to give their side of the story to Channel Nine’s 60 Minutes.

They will not be receiving money for the interview, the program’s executive producer, Tom Malone, said.

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‘‘We never comment on any commercial arrangements between 60 Minutes and our interview subjects but, given the nature of this story, it’s important our viewers know that no money has been or will be paid to the parents,’’ Malone said.

He said that, while the couple were not taking money, the program were making a donation to a charity raising money for Gammy, in exchange for an interview.

‘‘60 Minutes will be making a donation to the charity Hands Across the Water, which is raising money for Gammy’s ongoing treatment and care.’’

Mr Farnell, a convicted paedophile, and his wife have gone to ground since news of the scandal broke.

The only family member to speak has been Mr Farnell’s son who spoke to Fairfax Media on Wednesday to defend his father whom he described as ‘‘an amazing father".

In a statement sent out on Friday morning, Mr and Mrs Farnell have asked the Australian public not to judge them until they listen to their side of the story.

‘‘The Australian parents of baby Gammy and his twin sister have asked us for the opportunity to tell their side of the story.

‘‘They would like Australia to hear their side of the story, before passing judgment on them,’’ the statement said.

The couple did not mention anything about Gammy but wanted the public to know they had not abandoned their dog, which was taken away from their family home by the RSPCA on Wednesday.

‘‘They were feeding their dog every day until the RSPCA took her away,’’ a spokesman said.

A program spokesman also added that 60 Minutes had in no way interfered with inquiries by the Western Australian Department of Child Protection, or Western Australian Police.

The couple said they had been co-operating with the Department of Child Protection since Wednesday morning, and will continue to do so.